MCT New and Renewing MCTs - Update July 26
Updated July 26, 2025 As we step into FY26 on July 1st, 2025, I want to share some important updates regarding the MCT Program—especially for those planning to renew. New Fees Coming October 2025, no exact date and the cost will be shared at a later date. Starting July 1st, 2025, we will introduce: A renewal fee (ecommerce tool will be available in October 2025 for everyone to renew) A new MCT enrollment fee (ecommerce tool will be available in October 2025 for new MCTs) Our systems are currently being updated to support this change, with the new tool expected to launch in October 2025. More to come on costs. Pricing will be region supported. Session Requirement for Renewal Effective January 1st, 2026, MCTs will be required to complete six (6) sessions or six (6) days of training per calendar year to qualify for renewal. For clarity on what qualifies as a session, please refer to the attached PDF: Mandatory Use of MTM We will be enforcing stricter requirements for using Metrics That Matter (MTM) to log sessions with your Training Services Partner (TSP). Please coordinate with your TSPs to ensure MTM is being used correctly. What to Expect Next More details on program costs will be shared closer to the tool’s release. All MCTs that were MCTs before manual enrollment have been extended through January 1st, 2026, with full benefits. You’ll see this extension reflected in your profile in your MCT Trainer History NOT active certification. All current MCTs will be able to renew when the tool is available in October 2025 and the requirement to renew will be to have an active certification and have taught one class since your last renewal and pay the renewal fee (costs to come later). We will be checking that you have taught the one class using MTM. New MCTs will need ISC certificate, one role-based active certification and pay the MCT new enrollment fee. New MCT Enrollment Process | Microsoft Learn 🙏 Thank you for your continued support and patience as we enhance our systems. Here’s to a successful and impactful FY26!Update on MCT Manual Enrollment Process
Training Services Partners, Existing and New Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs), and ISCPs We know it’s been a long road—over a year of manual MCT enrollments—and we sincerely apologize for the delays. Currently, onboarding is booking several months out. 💡 Need to teach before your scheduled onboarding? If it’s urgent, email mctprog@microsoft.com and we’ll do our best to accommodate. ⚠️ Please note: Escalation grants limited access—you’ll get into the MCT Lounge, Learning Download Center, and labs. However, Visual Studio and discounted exams will only be available after full onboarding, which takes ~2 months from your onboarding date. 🔧 We do not yet have a timeline for when the automated enrollment tool will be restored, but we’ll keep you posted. ✅ In the meantime, please continue working with your ISCP to get onboarded as an MCT. Thank you for your patience and continued dedication to the MCT program. 💙September 5 Update: Issue with Achievement Code Creation
September 5 Update: Engineering is progressing on a fix. The soonest we would see proper functionality is end of next week (around the 12th). I will provide an additional update then. August 27 Update: Engineering is working on this and the right people are involved. Not to get too into the weeds, but it's a database migration issue across two distinct teams. They understand the urgency, and I'll bring you more updates as soon as I receive them. August 14 Update: The issue has been identified. I do not yet have a time to resolution to share but will update here when I know more. August 8 Update: We are aware there is an issue with newly onboarded partners attempting to access achievement codes for the first time. We are working on the issue but do not currently have timing on a solution. I will update here when more information becomes available. Thanks.New Training Services Partner Onboarding Update
Hello new TSPs. We are currently updating the onboarding process to provide better communications around process and timing. While we work to update, please send me a private message if you have completed the onboarding form and you are currently waiting on a response. I anticipate this workaround to last for a few weeks and for us to have a new process in place in January. Once the update is complete and the normal process resumes, I will delete this thread. Thanks, Dan[CLOSED] - FY25 Monthly Training Services Partner Community Call Thread
We will use this thread to communicate updates (invites and links) for the monthly TSP Community Calls. Thanks for joining us on yesterday's June TSP Community Calls. You can now access the recording, deck, and transcripts in our temporary shared folder: https://aka.ms/TSPCC_June24. The last year of calls continue to live on the Learning Resources site: https://partner.microsoft.com/marketing/learning-resources#/ We will not have a July call. Our next call will be August 28th. Invites are attached.Copilot Licenses and Evolution of Benefits Packages
Hi all, If you haven't already heard the news, Microsoft is making updates to the product licensing in benefits packages: partner.microsoft.com/en-US/blog/article/innovate-with-partner-benefits. This includes Copilot for Modern Work and Biz Apps benefits. What is changing? Beginning January 22, 2025, we are adding over 20 in-demand product licenses to our benefits packages. This includes game-changing Microsoft Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft GitHub. These product licenses will be accessible in select partner benefits packages and Training Services Partner Solution Area designations. For information on changes by benefits package type, see our benefits transition walking deck. Additionally, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program benefits guide has been updated to include the upcoming license availability (starting on page 45). As part of this benefit transition, we are also announcing that Microsoft will no longer sell Microsoft Action Pack, Microsoft Learning Action Pack, or legacy silver / gold benefits starting January 22, 2025. We will continue to offer the three new benefit packages that were released in January 2024: Partner Launch Benefits, Partner Success Core Benefits, and Partner Success Expanded Benefits. These are optional benefits packages and not required to participate in the Training Services Partner (TSP) ecosystem. Timeline January 21, 2025: partners will be able to purchase or renew Action Pack or legacy silver / gold benefits through this date. All existing legacy benefits purchased on or before this date will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. January 22, 2025: new product licenses will be added to qualifying benefits packages. Existing Action Pack and legacy silver / gold benefits packages will not receive the new licenses. Next Steps Having a benefits package as a TSP is optional, but recommended. Aside from product licensing, partners receive Azure credit greater than the cost of the package. Additionally, Solutions Area partners have access to elevated badging and the customer-facing partner directory (coming soon). Partners may opt to participate in the TSP ecosystem with no benefits package. Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal date on or before January 21, 2025, have the ability to: renew legacy benefits for one more 12-month period and / or transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas (note: TSPs can simultaneously have all 3 options above) Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal data after January 21, 2025, have the ability to: transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas Resources Familiarize yourself with the transition walking deck and updated benefits guide Review the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program FAQ Compare offerings across the Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, and Partner Success Expanded benefit packages Join the TSP Community Calls for additional information as it becomes available (August 28 th call invites are attached) Ask questions of other TSPs and Microsoft program managers via the Training Services Partner Forum We will continue to provide updates through our regular communication channels as we work towards January 2025 and beyond. As always, if you have any questions please reach out. Thanks for your support. Dan
The Importance of MCTs and MCT Regional Leads for TSPs - Brief Overview (Issue 1)
Good day, and a warm Welcome I would like to discuss the importance of MCTs and MCT Regional Leads for all TSPs. The purpose of this is to provide a brief overview of the roles. MCTs: Now to put it simply an MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer) is the go to professional for all your training needs. Not only do most of them provide you with excellent client service, they also provide knowledge and in most cases a vast amount of experience. Using MCTs to train your clients allows you to complete MTMs which in facts allows the you to reach your training targets set out. MCTs are the Only Professionals that are allowed to provide Training on Most Microsoft Services and it has been the standard for decades now to have MCTs provide training. Provided that they provide training in their specific specialty in which they are certified in. MCT Regional Leads: MCT Regional Leads are there to support, guide and help MCTs in their respective regions and/or the world. They have the most vital job function and that is to be there not only for the MCTs but to help TSPs find talent, evaluate resources and many more in and effort to have the best training experiences. Overall the MCT Regional Leads allows MCTs to have some senior to look to for assistance or advice. (As we can all agree that without a proper structure/leader everything becomes a challenge). In General MCTs and Regional Leads have their own community called the "MCT Lounge" where they engage with thousands of trainers world wide, sharing and participating in activities such as: Answer Question Create and Share Content Organize Online Events Organize In-Person Events Train-the-Trainer Initiatives and many more... 🙂 I hope this clears up some questions for New and Existing TSPs. Please do leave a reply should you have any questions so the MCTs and Regional Leads will be able to assist 🙂 Kind Regards Phillip Roos (MCT Regional Lead, South Africa)
